Lost Sol

Campbell’s County exit a ‘blessing in disguise’

FanZone correspondent Richard Medley summarises Sol Campbell’s brief encounter with Notts County…

Well, that was brief wasn’t it?

It’s just after midday as I write, and full details are still sketchy. However, it does appear that Sol Campbell’s Notts County ‘career’ is over.

Thousands of words written, hours of training, one press conference and 90 minutes later the ex-England man is walking out the door.

Mr Campbell made his debut at Morecombe last Saturday, in what was described as a below standard Notts performance. While Campbell did the simple things well, there were obvious signs of rust that in fairness were perhaps to have been expected.

Despite this apparent swift exit, the mood among Notts’ fans at the moment is that this is a blessing in disguise.

At the press conference at which Sol was unveiled, he shifted about uneasily in his seat, shrugged his shoulders far too many times and generally looked like a man who wasn’t quite sure how he’d come to the decision to join Notts.

At this point, I joined many Notts supporters in debating two points.

Firstly, why on earth are we handing out a five-year player’s contract to a 35-year old?

Secondly, how is it possible for Ian McParland to keep a united dressing room when one player is earning considerably more than the others? It’s a well documented problem that has happened at numerous other clubs before, and it’ll happen again.

Bust-up

It’s been alleged there was a training ground bust-up of some sort, after which Campbell said farewell to the players and suggested he wouldn’t be returning.

It has also been suggested that Campbell had held talks with executive chairman Peter Trembling, apparently saying that the level of investment HE had been promised, hadn’t been delivered. If that’s the case, who does he think he is?

It is also speculated that Campbell delivered an ‘it’s him (McParland) or me’ ultimate to Mr Trembling, in which case, the right decision has been made.

I’m not convinced I want Peter Trembling to make any effort at all to talk Sol Campbell back to the club. Experience and quality are two fantastic assets to any club that Campbell may represent in the future, but for the moment Notts County need players who wish to drive their careers forward with Notts. If Mr Campbell doesn’t want to be part of that, then we don’t want him. No player is bigger than any club, not even Sol Campbell.

So far Peter Trembling, Sven and Ian McParland have recruited some excellent players for this division, and in my opinion are probably the most talented if probably the smallest squad in League Two.

Trembling has been eloquent when questioned on any subject, and I have no reason to question his judgment on the events of the last 24 hours.

Goodbye Sol, and if in the unlikely event of you turning up at Notts County again, can I just urge you to bring a damn fine explanation with you.

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